Early Years Unit > Pastoral Care

School Ethos

Homefield School has a Christian ethos and teaches the boys to live and learn in an atmosphere of care and respect.

Code of Conduct

The keystone in the provision of pastoral care is the form teacher.  If your child is experiencing problems at school then the first point of reference should always be the form teacher.  Should problems persist then they should be referred first to the Head of Early Years’ Unit and, beyond that, to the Deputy Headteacher.  Small problems are best raised at an early stage with your son’s form teacher who will always make every effort to deal with them at once.  However, teachers are more likely to be able to give adequate attention to your difficulties if consulted at the end, rather than at the beginning of the day.  Appointments may be readily made either informally by note, or through the school secretary, by telephone.

The children in the Early Years’ Unit have a range of incentives that encourage and reward positive behaviour on a daily basis. Our stickers and “sparkles” are a visible acknowledgement of individuals’ achievements, and they allow everyone (at school and also at home) to see and then praise the child for his good behaviour, attitude or ability shown.

In the Transition classes, boys’ attainment of an individual goal during the term/year is also rewarded publicly with the award of the “Student of the Week” badge and certificate.  The Nursery boys are also given a “Star Award” and record their name in a Golden book.

A range of sanctions also operates for negative behaviour and if these are used on occasion the class teacher will mention it to parents when they collect their child that day. A firm but fair policy, that is supported by both home and school, allows the children to benefit from the social environment of school and fully develop their potential for learning.

At Homefield we actively promote our Anti Bullying Policy and at the appropriate time you will be asked fully to commit your support to this policy.

Assemblies

Each Wednesday the Transition boys join in a Collective Worship time of approximately 15 minutes with the Juniors. We have a song and a prayer focusing on a Christian/moral theme, led by the Junior or Transition Staff.

On Fridays we have a similar assembly for the Early Years’ Unit at which we acknowledge the effort and achievements of the week.


 

Festivals

In addition to the main Christian festivals, we also learn about other religious and cultural events in a way that is appropriate to young children.

We welcome the personal explanation of celebrations such as Eid, Diwali, Passover and Chinese New Year by members of the boys’ families wherever possible. We enjoy finding out about the customs involved in different, shared occasions by looking at the clothes, food, decorations, practices and ideas connected to these events.


Charities

Guide Dogs for the Blind

Each Friday morning money is collected for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. Pupils can post their coins into the Labrador moneybox when it visits their class and receive a sticker for their thoughtfulness towards others.

Fund raising

Collections of money or goods and sponsored events for our nominated charities take place during the year. The EYU boys join in the Mufti days and activities that are happening in the whole school each term. Information about these projects are notified to you in the school  calendar, in the “Headlines” newsletter or by letters sent home on some occasions.

Homefield School Complaints Procedure – an overview

Sharing your concerns about your child’s education

A guide to parents

Homefield School recognises that at times things can go wrong.  This guidance will help you understand how to resolve concerns you may have about your child’s education.

When should I complain to the School?

The school’s governing body has overall responsibility for the school and for ensuring that all pupils receive an appropriate and high standard of education.  

The headmaster is responsible for making decisions on a daily basis about the school’s internal management an organisation.  So you should contact the school is you are concerned about a general issue such as:


• Your child’s academic progress
• Special education needs provision
• Your child’s welfare
• Bullying

Or about wider issues, such as:

• The overall running of the school
• A school policy
• The management of the school budget
• The use of school facilities

The school also has procedures for dealing with complaints about:

• The community’s use of school facilities
• Services delivered by the school such as adult learning or childcare.

How do I complain to the school?

The school will always want you to speak to the relevant member of staff as soon as you have a concern.  In the Early Years’ Unit and the Junior Department this will usually be the form teacher.  Failing this, the Head of the particular unit should be contacted.

In the Senior Department, if your concern is of an academic nature the subject teacher may be approached in the first instance.  If the concern is of a pastoral nature the relevant form tutor may be approached.  Should you feel that the matter has not been successfully resolved by this approach the Deputy Headteacher Pastoral or the Assistant Headteacher Administration may then be contacted to help resolve the matter.

This informal approach is nearly always the quickest and most effective way of resolving your concerns.  If you feel that your concern has not been resolved, then it is important to ask the school for its complaints’ procedure.  This explains what you should do next.  The school will use the following process and will advise you:

• To speak to or write to the Headmaster who will look into your concern
• To write to the Chair of Governors if you are unhappy with the Headmaster’s response or if the matter concerns the governing body.

The school’s procedures also offer an appeal to the governing body’s Complaints’ Panel.  This panel consists of three persons: two governors and one independent person who have no prior knowledge of your complaint and will consider written and verbal submissions from you and the Headmaster.

Can I take my complaint further?

The Complaints’ Panel will report to the Board of Governors whose decision, once the Complaints’ Procedure has been followed, will be final.